--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Treason is a charge invented by winners…" description: "\"“Treason is a charge invented by winners as an excuse for hanging the losers.”\" — Sherman Edwards" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/sherman-edwards-81436_quote_treason-is-a-charge-invented-by-winners_888707.jpg" --- # Treason is a charge invented by winners as an excuse for… ![“Treason is a charge invented by winners as an excuse for hanging the losers.” quote by Sherman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/sherman-edwards-81436_quote_treason-is-a-charge-invented-by-winners_888707.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/sherman-edwards-81436_quote_treason-is-a-charge-invented-by-winners_888707.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/sherman-edwards-81436_quote_treason-is-a-charge-invented-by-winners_888707.jpg) > ““Treason is a charge invented by winners as an excuse for hanging the losers.”” Sherman Edwards ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Powerful elites label dissent as treason to legitimize oppression. **In simple terms:** Winners label opposition as treason. Key Takeaway Question authority’s motives. Themes politics power justice Mood critical skeptical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - activism - legal defense - public discourse - human rights Key Concepts authoritarianism labeling control Questions to Reflect On - Who decides what constitutes treason? - How can societies protect dissent? A Different Perspective Opposition can be genuine; not all accusations are false. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Treason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treason/) ## Related quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [“At the front, people die for their mistakes. Why should politicians be more gently treated? They made the war. They deserve a dozen deaths,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/at-the-front-people-die-for-their-mistakes-why-should-politicians-be/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [She folded her arms and then shouted, "Right you thieving scunners! How dare you steal Miss Treason's funeral meats!" "Oh, waily, waily, it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/she-folded-her-arms-and-then-shouted-right-you-thieving-scunners-how/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“To question me once is a simple mistake, Lieutenant. Twice is treason. We execute traitors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/to-question-me-once-is-a-simple-mistake-lieutenant-twice-is-treason/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [The real problem with big issues like Medicare is that both parties have to be brave at the same time. Every pollster will tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/the-real-problem-with-big-issues-like-medicare-is-that-both-parties/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [Only In America can a renowned and devoted terrorism supporter like Peter King be the arbiter of national security and treason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/only-in-america-can-a-renowned-and-devoted-terrorism-supporter-like/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [Chillin watching CNN thinking damn we are damned not again. How is George Bush not in jail for treason. But Clinton gets impeached for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asher-roth/chillin-watching-cnn-thinking-damn-we-are-damned-not-again-how-is/) [Asher Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asher-roth/) > [“Arnold went into treason as into a business, surveying the ground and estimating the possible profits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-doren-carl-c/arnold-went-into-treason-as-into-a-business-surveying-the-ground-and/) Van Doren Carl C > [Treason and murder ever kept together, As two yoke-devils sworn to either's purpose, Working so grossly in a natural cause That admiration did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/treason-and-murder-ever-kept-together-as-two-yoke-devils-sworn-to/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Corporations cannot commit treason, nor be outlawed, nor excommunicated, for they have no souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/corporations-cannot-commit-treason-nor-be-outlawed-nor-excommunicated/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [“There's nae reasoning wi some cats. You say 'reason', they mew 'treason'. Ken?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/there-s-nae-reasoning-wi-some-cats-you-say-reason-they-mew-treason-ken/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [ “See that the mind is honest, first; the rest may follow or not as God wills. \[That\] the fundamental treason to the mind ...… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/see-that-the-mind-is-honest-first-the-rest-may-follow-or-not-as-god/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [Disunion by force is treason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/disunion-by-force-is-treason/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [Treason implies responsibility for something, control over something, influence upon something, knowledge of something. Treason in our time is a proof of genius. Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/treason-implies-responsibility-for-something-control-over-something/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [It's probably hard for anyone looking at my landscapes today to realize that I was once regarded as a rebel, a dangerous influence; that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-y-jackson/it-s-probably-hard-for-anyone-looking-at-my-landscapes-today-to/) [A. Y. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-y-jackson/) ## More by Sherman Edwards > [“Don't forget that most men with nothing would rather protect the possibility of becoming rich than face the reality of being poor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-edwards/don-t-forget-that-most-men-with-nothing-would-rather-protect-the/) Sherman Edwards > [“I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is a disgrace, that two become a lawfirm, and that three or more become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-edwards/i-have-come-to-the-conclusion-that-one-useless-man-is-a-disgrace-that/) Sherman Edwards Explore all 3 Sherman Edwards quotes ## More Treason quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [Treason implies responsibility for something, control over something, influence upon something, knowledge of something. Treason in our time is a proof of genius. Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/treason-implies-responsibility-for-something-control-over-something/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Disunion by force is treason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/disunion-by-force-is-treason/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [ “See that the mind is honest, first; the rest may follow or not as God wills. \[That\] the fundamental treason to the mind ...… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/see-that-the-mind-is-honest-first-the-rest-may-follow-or-not-as-god/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“There's nae reasoning wi some cats. You say 'reason', they mew 'treason'. Ken?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/there-s-nae-reasoning-wi-some-cats-you-say-reason-they-mew-treason-ken/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [Corporations cannot commit treason, nor be outlawed, nor excommunicated, for they have no souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/corporations-cannot-commit-treason-nor-be-outlawed-nor-excommunicated/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [Treason and murder ever kept together, As two yoke-devils sworn to either's purpose, Working so grossly in a natural cause That admiration did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/treason-and-murder-ever-kept-together-as-two-yoke-devils-sworn-to/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Arnold went into treason as into a business, surveying the ground and estimating the possible profits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-doren-carl-c/arnold-went-into-treason-as-into-a-business-surveying-the-ground-and/) Van Doren Carl C > [Chillin watching CNN thinking damn we are damned not again. How is George Bush not in jail for treason. But Clinton gets impeached for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asher-roth/chillin-watching-cnn-thinking-damn-we-are-damned-not-again-how-is/) [Asher Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asher-roth/) > [Only In America can a renowned and devoted terrorism supporter like Peter King be the arbiter of national security and treason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/only-in-america-can-a-renowned-and-devoted-terrorism-supporter-like/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [The real problem with big issues like Medicare is that both parties have to be brave at the same time. Every pollster will tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/the-real-problem-with-big-issues-like-medicare-is-that-both-parties/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [“To question me once is a simple mistake, Lieutenant. Twice is treason. We execute traitors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/to-question-me-once-is-a-simple-mistake-lieutenant-twice-is-treason/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [She folded her arms and then shouted, "Right you thieving scunners! How dare you steal Miss Treason's funeral meats!" "Oh, waily, waily, it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/she-folded-her-arms-and-then-shouted-right-you-thieving-scunners-how/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“At the front, people die for their mistakes. Why should politicians be more gently treated? They made the war. They deserve a dozen deaths,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/at-the-front-people-die-for-their-mistakes-why-should-politicians-be/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [It's probably hard for anyone looking at my landscapes today to realize that I was once regarded as a rebel, a dangerous influence; that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-y-jackson/it-s-probably-hard-for-anyone-looking-at-my-landscapes-today-to/) [A. Y. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-y-jackson/) [Browse all 341 Treason quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treason/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Treason is a charge invented by winners as an excuse for hanging the losers.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sherman Edwards" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-edwards/treason-is-a-charge-invented-by-winners-as-an-excuse-for-hanging-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Treason" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-edwards/treason-is-a-charge-invented-by-winners-as-an-excuse-for-hanging-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/sherman-edwards-81436_quote_treason-is-a-charge-invented-by-winners_888707.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/sherman-edwards-81436_quote_treason-is-a-charge-invented-by-winners_888707.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/sherman-edwards-81436_quote_treason-is-a-charge-invented-by-winners_888707.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Treason is a charge invented by winners as an excuse for hanging the losers.” — Sherman Edwards", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sherman Edwards", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-edwards/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Treason is a charge invented by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-edwards/treason-is-a-charge-invented-by-winners-as-an-excuse-for-hanging-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-edwards/treason-is-a-charge-invented-by-winners-as-an-excuse-for-hanging-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```